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Dimethyl Fumarate Improves Depression and Anxiety by Reducing Brain Catalase Levels in Mice
Author(s) -
Iniaghe Loretta Oghenekome,
Ilondu Chinenye Amara,
Eseka Ewere Ogechuwu,
Gabriel Benjamin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.989.8
Subject(s) - behavioural despair test , tail suspension test , catalase , imipramine , diazepam , depression (economics) , anxiety , dimethyl sulfoxide , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , pharmacology , psychiatry , oxidative stress , pathology , antidepressant , alternative medicine , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , economics
Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders which are leading causes of disability and are estimated to be major contributors to overall global burden of disease; both often accompany chronic diseases. This study investigated the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in animal models of depression and anxiety. Methods Mice (n=40) were treated with either the vehicle ‐dimethyl sulfoxide/distilled water (DMSO solution), 50 and 100 mg/kg DMF and Imipramine and subjected to either the forced swim test (FST), n=20 or the tail suspension test (TST) after they were euthanized, whole brains isolated, homogenized and assayed for brain catalase levels. Another set of mice (n=40) were treated daily with either the vehicle, DMF 50 and 100 mg/kg and Imipramine for two weeks and subjected to FST and TST on the fourteenth day. Thereafter, they were sacrificed, whole brains isolated, homogenized and assayed for brain catalase levels. Changes in body weight were also recorded daily. The same procedure was followed for determination of anxiety using the stair case and hole board tests instead of the FST and TST and Diazepam as the reference drug. Results In the test for depression, 100 mg/kg DMF significantly (p<0.05) reduced periods of immobility in both the FST and TST after acute and chronic drug administration. DMF also significantly (p<0.05) decreased brain catalase levels and improved body weights when compared to the control. In the test for anxiolysis, 50 mg/kg DMF significantly (p<0.05) improved upward climbs and number of head dips in both the stair case and hole board tests respectively. Conclusion DMF exhibited anti‐depressant activity and anxiolytic properties at doses used in this study Support or Funding Information Personal Funds of the Authors